Bio

Rudy Arguelles was named the Head Baseball Coach of Riverside City College in the Fall of 2015. He and the Tigers boast an overall record of 222-108 heading into the 2025 season.  

During the 2022 season, Arguelles and the Tigers secured their fifth 3C2A State Championship in RCC history. Overall, Arguelles will be entering his 25th year as a coach for RCC baseball. He has diligently continued the success and traditions of the Riverside program that legendary coach Dennis Rogers established when he took the program from the depths in 1990.

Arguelles has worked in all facets of the game, assisting players with their continued development and growth mentally and physically. “It’s an absolute area of emphasis and a standard that was established in the early years with Dennis, and his staff,” said Arguelles. “We take tremendous pride in continuing these standards and preparing these young men for their next opportunities in the game and in life!”

Arguelles has been a part of all five California Community College State Baseball Championships at RCC. The Tigers are one of only three colleges in the state of California to win three consecutive state titles (2000, 2001, and 2002). RCC also won state titles in 2007 and most recently in 2022. The Tigers have been to the State Championship eight times in program history, with 1990, 1991 and 2008 being the only years they were not able to win the championship.

Since transitioning to the Tigers' head coach in 2016, Arguelles and staff have assisted over 100 student-athletes onto the next levels of opportunity, including all three NCAA divisions and NAIA.

Six players have been drafted since Arguelles has been at the helm, with the most recent in 2023. In 2022, Ignacio “Nacho” Alvarez was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round and made his major league debut in 2024.

RCC has had four players named either OEC Pitcher of the Year or Player of the Year. Most recently, Mathew Bardowell was named the State and National Player of the Year in 2022. Arguelles was also named the Orange Empire Conference John Altobelli Coach of the Year and the American Baseball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year as well.

As a student-athlete, Arguelles was an All-County and All-League (Mountain View) infielder out of Norco High School, where he learned and played under Gary Parcel and Don Harris. He led his team to consecutive league titles in his junior and senior years, which also saw his teams lose to both eventual CIF Champions.

After high school, Arguelles found his way to Riverside Community College to play for Dennis Rogers, who he would also eventually coach with. At RCC, he played every position but catcher on the diamond and earned All-Orange Empire Conference player honors after guiding his teams to the regional playoffs both years.

After RCC, Arguelles accepted a scholarship to Arizona State University and played under Pat Murphy, who is currently the Head Coach for the Milwaukee Brewers at the Major League Level. He helped guide his teams to Super Regional berths both years (1997 & 1998), and to the College World Series National Championship game in 1998, where the Sun Devils eventually lost in to the University of Southern California. Arguelles earned All-College World Series First Team honors as an outfielder. That same year he was drafted by the Anaheim Angels and played a season within their organization before he headed back to start his coaching career at Riverside City College.

Arguelles earned his bachelor’s degree in communication from Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in physical education from Azusa Pacific University.

Arguelles enjoys his time away from the field and campus with his family, which includes his wife, Adrienne, and their children: son Rudy lll and their daughter-in-law Devin, grandsons Anson and Bucky, and granddaughter Wynona; daughter Charli; son Ponciano and daughter-in-law Julia; daughter Karissa and granddaughter Eastyn Rae; son Grant; and daughter Leighton.

Coach Arguelles by the Numbers